Source:  BLM Cody Field Office/Contact Sarah Beckwith

BLM Issues Decision on McCullough Peaks Herd Fertility Control

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Cody Field Office announces a finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Decision Record (DR) for the implementation of a field darting fertility control program in the McCullough Peaks Wild Horse Herd Management Area (HMA).

Beginning in March 2011, the BLM will treat select mares over one year of age with the fertility drug porcine zona pellucida (PZP) in order to slow the population growth on the range and work towards maintaining the appropriate management level (AML) of 70-140 wild horses in the McCullough Peaks HMA. Maintaining the AML will help prevent deterioration of rangelands, balance wild horses with other public rangeland resources and uses, and allow the BLM to comply with its Consent Decree with the State of Wyoming.

The goal of utilizing field darting to apply the PZP is to reduce the need for large and costly helicopter gather and removal operations in the future.

The FONSI [Finding of No Significant Impact] and DR [Decision Record] are available on the BLM website at:http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/documents/cyfo/mcculloughpeak...

For more information, please contact BLM Wild Horse Specialist Tricia Hatle at 307-578-5900, or stop by the Cody Field Office at 1002 Blackburn Street.